Tamarind Rice

Vibrant, tangy, and packed with bold South Indian flavors, Tamarind Rice is a comforting yet complex dish that's perfect for quick lunches or festive occasions. This easy-to-make recipe combines fluffy rice with a rich tamarind sauce infused with the nutty aroma of sesame oil and a medley of toasted lentils, crunchy peanuts, cashews, and aromatic spices like mustard seeds, curry leaves, and asafoetida. A touch of jaggery balances the tamarind’s tang, while dried red chilies and green chilies add just the right amount of heat. Whether served as a main dish or a flavorful side, Tamarind Rice pairs wonderfully with crispy papad and cooling yogurt, making it an irresistible crowd-pleaser.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup Rice
• 1 tablespoon Tamarind pulp
• 2 cups Water
• 2 tablespoons Sesame oil
• 0.5 teaspoon Mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon Chana dal
• 1 teaspoon Urad dal
• 2 Dried red chilies
• 8 Cashew nuts
• 0.5 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 0.25 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 10 leaves Curry leaves
• 1 sliced Green chillies
• 2 tablespoons Peanuts
• 1 teaspoon Jaggery

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the rice thoroughly and cook it with 2 cups of water in a rice cooker or pot until fluffy. Allow it to cool and separate the grains using a fork.

Step 2

In a small bowl, dissolve the tamarind pulp in 1/4 cup of warm water and set aside.

Step 3

Heat sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.

Step 4

Add chana dal, urad dal, peanuts, and cashew nuts to the pan. Fry until they turn golden brown.

Step 5

Stir in the dried red chilies, green chillies, curry leaves, and sauté for another 30 seconds.

Step 6

Add the tamarind mixture to the pan along with turmeric powder, asafoetida, jaggery, and salt. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the raw smell of tamarind disappears.

Step 7

Add the cooled rice to the tamarind mixture and mix well to ensure the spices coat the rice thoroughly.

Step 8

Cook for another 2-3 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. Check the seasoning and adjust salt if necessary.

Step 9

Serve hot with papad and yogurt on the side.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	760.2 grams (760.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	782

Total Fat 44.70g	57%
Saturated Fat 6.90g	35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 13.50g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1752mg	76%
Total Carbohydrate 86.80g	32%
Dietary Fiber 10.60g	38%
Total Sugars 14.30g
Protein 16.20g	32%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 131mg	10%
Iron 8mg	42%
Potassium 853mg	18%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 49.4%

Protein: 8.0%

Carbs: 42.6%